UNREST IN FIJI

Otago Witness, Issue 3455, 1 June 1920, Page 6

UNREST IN FIJI

STRIKE ON LARGE SCALE FEARED,

(Fbom Our Own Cokhespondent.) AUCKLAND, May 23.

Amongst the passengers who arrived by the Atua from Fiji is. Mr J. G. .Rowley, of Sydney, wiio is a frequent visitor to these islands on business. In the course of an interview Mr Rowley said that the outlook for labour in Fiji was extremely bad and many Indians would be leaving for their own country in the near future, three steamers having been chartered for that purpose. Not a few of the Indians intended, to come to New Zealand. He did not think there would be any more actual rioting, but he would not be surprised if there was a? strike on a large scale when the sugar mills started crushing. A large mill at Lautoka would commence early next month. The crops from Sigatoka through Nadi on to Lautoka were very promising this season, and the same remark applied to the Penang district; but at Ba the sugar cane was poor owing to a pest known as Johnstone Grass. This was originally introduced for pasture, but had spread to such air extent that it had got into plantations and choked the cane.

DAIRYING AND CATTLE-RAISING. As Mr Rowley is interested in the cattle trade bo was asked how that industry was progressing at Fiji. He replied that dairying and cattle raising were fast becoming important industries throughout the t-rouo. There was plenty of fat stock available * export, but the cost of transit to Australia had been raised from £6 15s_ to £7 14s per head, which made it expensive to ship to that market. A representative of .a large meat and canning industry was at present exploring the islands for a site with a view to erecting works. Australian cattle had been prohibited from entering Fiji for fear of the tick, and as the order did not apply to New Zealand Mr Rowley stated that he has como here to pick up a few bulls. FINANCIAL STRINGENCY. Mr Rowley stated also that Fiji is suffering from financial stringency. The 'estimates recently published showed a deficit on the past year of £26,000. It was thought that" the income tax would be increased and others raised to meet the shortage. May 24-. Unrest among natives has disappeared, at lecst for the present, said Sir Cecil Rodwell, retiring Governor of Fiji, in an interview yesterday. His Excellency said it was hoped that there would not be a recurrence of the trouble. Recent disturbances were confined to three districts, and were by no means general. The great majority .of the Indians in Fiji were not only law-abiding, but were also exceedingly loyal. Doubt-, less the basic cause of the discontent was economic, for, like people in other parts of the world, they were feeling the rise in the cost of the necessities of life. That W a's the beginning of the trouble, but he regretted to say the political element was i"/roduced. He was afraid the masses w ©"€ seriously misled by agitators. The New Zealand parliamentary party's visit to Fiji was an excellent thing, said Sir Cecil. He added that it would do a great deal towards improving the good relations already existing between the colony and the dominion. "I think there is a very strong bond between New Zealand and. the islands," his Excellency _ continued,, "and we are hopeful that it will assist our commercial relations. It is bound to enexmrage trade, shipping, and development generally. There are enormous possibilities in the islands for trade expansion, and when once we bit upoif a solution of the labour question I am sure the colony will go ahead very fast indeed. In fact, it is going ahead already."